Group & Committee News

The Commercial Real Estate Transactions Group analyzes the transactional and ownership issues which confront commercial real estate attorneys when dealing with land transfers, construction, sustainable transactions, servitudes, title insurance, property and liability insurance, and ownership of commercial real estate. Each committee within the group focuses on one of these topics. For more information regarding the activities of this group, contact Chair Bernie Kolodner at bkolodner@kleinbard.com.

Because many commercial real estate transactions cross the boundaries of our committees and of other groups, we try to be inter-disciplinary in our approach to analysis of transactions and the educational component of our group work. For example at the 2013 Spring Symposia, three of our committees, Purchase and Sale, Design and Construction, and Green and Sustainable Transactions, will jointly lead a program dealing with the new AIA Sustainable Project documents.

The Purchase and Sale Committee analyzes current and developing issues in land transfers, practices and customs. The committee also recommends and comments on legislation and relevant case law. For more information regarding the activities of this committee, contact Chair Racole Henry at racolehenry@gmail.com.

The Design and Construction Committee's work focuses primarily on the contracts that establish and document the relationships and ground rules necessary for designing and constructing the built environment. Concerns of owners, insurers, lenders, architects, contractors, subcontractors and construction managers are addressed. This Committee maintains a liaison with the American Institute of Architects and other similar organizations. For more information regarding the activities of this committee, contact Chair dean Alterman at dean@farlawfirm.com. This Committee presented at last year’s Symposia, and just delivered an eCLE dealing with the fact that sometimes printed form documents are not sufficient.

The Easements, Restrictions and Covenants Committee focuses on the use of servitudes in both commercial and residential projects. Programs and written materials are prepared with particular emphasis on office buildings, shopping centers, and mixed-use projects. The committee analyzes competing uses of easements by utilities, cable television companies and other fiber optic users and the land use involved. For more information regarding the activities of this committee, contact Chair Amy Bray at abray@atclawfirm.com.

The Title Insurance and Surveys Committee provides education on title insurance matters as well as current information and scholarship on new developments in title insurance, title insurance forms, endorsements and closing practice. This committee also addresses legal issues and standards relative to real estate surveys. The committee serves as liaison between the providers and consumers of title insurance and related services. For more information regarding the activities of this committee, contact Chair Jim Gosdin at jgosdin@stewart.com. This Committee delivered an eCLE in November entitled “Commercial Title Insurance Endorsements: What You Need to Know and What You Need to Ask."

The Property, Casualty, and Other Non-Title Insurance Committee focuses on all aspects of property and liability insurance for the ownership of and transactions involving real property. They are presenting a free call in program later this month about the storm in insurance underwriting created by Hurricane Sandy and similar disasters. For more information regarding the activities of this committee, contact Chair Leslie Ratley-Beach at lrbeach@lta.org.

The Green and Sustainable Transactions Committee is an area that is evolving rapidly making it increasingly critical that the attorneys who advise clients who are pursuing these transactions are well-informed not only regarding best practices but also the potential problems and pitfalls associated with practice in these fast developing areas. For more information regarding the activities of this committee, contact Chair Louise Adamson at LAdamson@perkinscoie.com.